Hi! I have been a member of this forum only a few months SO if this has been asked before, I’m sorry. I live in an apartment building and my present O-27 layout measures 8 feet x 6 1/2 feet. (It is the same base as I used when I ran HO) IF YOU ALSO LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, HOW LARGE IS YOUR LAYOUT? I would like to be able to support my case when I approach the “power-in-charge” and request permission to squeeze out an extension. MANY THANKS.
I lived in a two bedroom apartment almost 15 years ago. At that time, I had an L-shaped train layout in the second bedroom. The “L” consisted of one 4’ x 8’ plywood board and another 4’ x 4’ board. So it really wasn’t much larger than the one you have now. Here’s a couple of old photos of that layout:
Though I live in a house with a basement, my layout is only 6.5’x10’ in size.
Click the link below for photos
http://home.comcast.net/~graz6/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html
Mike
There was a article about building a layout in an apartment in one of the magazines. Perhaps you can search CTT or OGR. I have a house with 5 bedrooms and still no layout till the second garage gets built, so you are ahead of me. I have She Who Must Be Obeyed on my side as the kids really love the trains.
Dennis
however, it is one of the most beautifully sceniced layouts you will ever see. WHen you take into consideration the small size, it’s amazing, as shown below:
I’ve always been a big fan of the graz man! Love that layout and never tire of looking at it.
Jim
Jim,
I see whatchy mean. Graz may be devoid of stars, but his layout is all-star.
That layout is only 6.5 x 10??? It is one of the coolest layouts I have ever seen. Being primarily a garden railroader, I have toyed with the idea of putting a layout in my basement. I can only wish it will look that nice!
John Olsen
graz,
Wonderful layout. I am impressed by the detail in your scenery. Thanks for sharing.
TomS
Thanks guys!
It’s a fun little layout. I still have quite a bit of work to do (lighting, details, weeds, weathering ballast and track, etc. but haven’t managed to get around to it.
I do wi***hat I would have built it as a modular layout so I could take it to shows or events for kids. As it is now, it won’t really fit very well through a standard door.
Mike
Your kiding. More work as in weeds! Your layout is already nice as it is!
Thanks to all!
At my house in the small town where I grew up, I’m fortunate enough to have a very large basement with room for two big layouts, one O & S gauge, the other HO. However, this year I started university and so am living in an apartment in the city. Naturally, I couldn’t be without a train layout. My apartment in configured in such a way that there is a section coming off the living room that is intended to be the dining area. This space proves to be just perfect for a 5’x9’ layout. I live alone and don’t need a dining room table anyway; I just eat off of the kitchen counter or coffee table. The layout is very simple, with just two loops of O27 track with a passing siding in the inner one. Being that it’s in the “dinig area”, there’s a very nice light fixture haning right above the layout, which I like.
after not touching a train for thirty years , ive discovered that both my boys love trains also so the big boss has givin the go ahead on building one in the spare bedroom, now ive always been an HO guy but some of you guys have really cool layouts including graz, the detail you already have is amazing. my favorite part is the pond where you made the ripples off the boy divin in. i only hope we have half of the attention to detail as that. thanks everyone keep up the cool pics
Thanks guys.
With a limited budget, limited free time and a short attention span, a small layout offers the opportunity to see some real progress in a very short period of time. I just don’t have the patients to work night after night and see little obvious change or progress.
One day maybe.
Mike